The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-22
APLEAFOR THE HAWKERS
TR> EVIL EFFECTS OF a CITY
ORDINANCE.

b., tho Enactment of a Law That
Cannot Be Enforced - A Policy
Adopted for the Protection of the
Marketmen.
4 News reporter was informed the other
day of two important points, one that the
captains of the steamers leaving here could
buy all their vegetables for their northward
trip in the North cheaper than here, and
second that the street hawkers and buck
stel-s were being driven Off the streets by the
action Of the present ordinance regarding
their licenses The ordinance passed March
/. 1854, p.akes the license for hucksters of
fruit and vegetables SO per year. 1t gives
them the additional privilege Of securing a
six months license, after July l, and
if purchased before July Is, a 10 per cent
discount is allowed, making only $3.50 for
the six months. Some two months ago a
special effort was made TO enforce this Ordi-
nance. Some Of the green grOcers Ond sew
eral of the marketmen united their forces
and brought all their influence to bear on
this point and also to secure the passage of Il
more stringent ordinance. One was intro
6uced but it failed to pass, and the present
one remained in force without any change.
WHY IT is OPPOSED.
marked one of the Aldermen yesterday af-
ternoon, "for its absurd 70 think the city
could enforce it. For instance, you can't
deprive a man Of the right to sell his own
productions, or the fruits OF his labor
Now, thrue-fourthS of the fruit and vegeta-
bic hUcksteTs on our streets are just this
class They hive within a few miles of the
Gty, ard support themselves in this man
liner. Tho city is poweTless TO restrict them
in any way, and, | believe, also, there is a
state law that forbids any legislating
against them
'What do you think Of hawkers yourself,
individually! Do you favor their presence
in the cityW he was asked
Most decidedly do" replied the Alder
man. And can give you good reasons
for my opinion. First people are better
supplied with fruit and vegetables, espe-
cially the latter-and at very fair prices
Many of the people living at a distance
from the market cannot obtain fresh vege-
tables and other necessaries without these
hawkers. There is generally no one to go to
a distant market, and if the hawkers were
driven off by high licenses these people
would be deprived Of a very essential part
of their living; second, a large class make
their living out Of this industry, who other
wise might be made 4 charge on the com
munity.
A CORRECTIVE MEASURE.
Scores of negro boys can be seen en-
lployed as hawkers, who otherwise would be
idle and dissoute. They thus learn to sup
port themselves, and sometimes it starts
them on the right way; third. the produce
dealers are enabled frequently, by employ
ing them, TO sell out large lots of fresh
fruits and vegetables, which, if
not disposed of quickly, would
decay and thereby cause loss
to the dealer. Here they prove a double
I,a doc
a surplus on his hands, and also enabling
the poorer classes to secure fresh vegetables
and fruit at a reasonable price,
WHO object to them mostlyF'
well, the green grocers and some of the
marketmen are always fighting them. To
my mind, it is a mistake, for this class do
not lHjure them to any appreciable extent
and, as a rule, sell mostly to those who
could not get to the market
why not repeal the ordinancep'
lit could be done, for / really believe
there is a majority of the Council in favor
of repeating it. But, of course there is a
strong opposition, and SO it remains Just
where it is, like Mohammed's coffin, betwixt
heaven and earth, a law without any power
am in favor of the hawkers and am glad
the MORNING NEWS has taken notice of the
matter. For these people, in a measure, act
as an equipoise to the marketmen, and be-
tween the two the prices are kept at a
happy medium
WHAT THE DEALERS THINK
Seeking ont prominent fruit firm, they
were asked their opinion in the matter and
also If the hucksters were being driven off
the streets by the opposition they received
81 think they do a good work y said the
senior member of the concern. at cannot
be denied but that they sell large amount
of fruit and vegetables to those who would
never purchase at the market or at the
green-grocers'. Besides this, many a time
we have an immense lot OF fruit shipped
us at one time, which, if we
could not dispose of in this
manner would rot, causing us and
our shippers loss. | regard them as indis-
pensible. They should not be taxed nor
can those be who sell the products of their
own places But how can the city dis
tinguish! To enforce such an ordinance
would require body oe police triple the
size of our present force.n
Haven't the hucksters been less numer-
GUS tho past month or So than usualg
II can explain that. Usually every sum
mer large number Of negroes, men, women
and boys como in and buy fruit Of us. es-
pecially peaches, and thea sell it by retail
through the city. This Seasonfruit came in
late and high priced. The darkcys tried il
for a while but they lost 50 much that they
became disguised and quit going back nome
It's only the peach hucksters who left. |
think there are as many of the others vet in
the city as usual"
HOW THE PRICES RUN
''Are the prices in the market as low rs
usual this season.
YES" he replied; 1.-THE prices for all
kinds Of vegetables are very reasonable, and
compare with those of any city,"
In regard to query regarding prices of
melons III New York and here. he showed a
price current just received For instance,
fan y melons were selling in New York
Tuesday for $20M25 per hundred, re-
failing at 4OM5pc. each. Here they
were wholesaling at Sl1M15 per
100, and retailing at Is TO 25c Tho melons
quoted in New York at SIP to Sl5 per 100
could not be sold here at any price, espe-
cially when so much better ones were to be
had"
swell, how is it about the steamer Cap
tains not purchasing their vegetables here
for their Northern tripsm
Il don't believe that report. / know Of
Une man in the market who sells large
amount of vegetables and fruits TO the out
Goir., steamers. The markets here com
pete, and | am sure there's not shadow of
foundation for the report Several
other parties were interviewed regarding
the subject, but their ideas all conceded
with those already given.
The popular feeling seems 20 he that the
hawkers are necessary, and that they do a
II. :. - II